As well as the tell-tale signs of decorations going up, the rolling out of Christmas advertisements has become a key moment for getting us all in the seasonal mood. And the competition to capture the festive spirit – and the customers that come with it – is fierce.

There's been a lot of hand-wringing and soul searching about the state of the NHS and how it can best respond to the challenges ahead; and the contribution of the service user, or citizen, in meeting those challenges is gaining more attention.

The Children's Lives project, led by Professor Ian Grosvenor, has been added as a case study to the National co-ordinating centre for public engagement (NCCPE) website. The NCCPE supports universities to increase the quality and impact of their public engagement activities.

On World Autism Awareness Day, UK experts are calling for stronger links with India to develop best autism practices that are relevant to the specific cultural and local needs of the country. A research team from the University of Birmingham, UCL Institute of Education (IOE) and the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad) are currently visiting schools in Hyderabad, engaging with teachers and parents on how technology can support children with autism in India.

Written by Chris Game. "Cornwall leapfrogs West Midlands in devolution race" was the headline over one report of the Government's recent devolution deal with Cornwall Council, giving the county greater control over adult skills spending and regional investment, and, with the Isles of Scilly, the prospect of integrating health and social care services.